Alum Creek Prothonotary Warbler Nest Jars - Tuttle

E-mail from, and photos by Dick Tuttle:

Hello Everyone,

On 3 May 2007, I used my canoe to install ten pairs of Prothonotary Warbler "nest jars" along a mile-long stretch of Alum Creek from the Rt. 521 bridge at Kilbourne, Ohio to Alum Creek Lake. This project is fashioned after a successful project started in 1992 along the Upper Cuyahoga River in Geauga County in northeast Ohio. Dan Best, naturalist with the Geauga County Metro Parks, and two other conservationists, the late Duane Ferris and Andrew Fondrk installed plastic Metamucil jars mounted on telescoping PVC pipe sections to accommodate nesting warblers. A 2001 report had Prothonotaries nesting in ten of 18 jars.

The stream that feeds Alum Creek Lake looks very much like the Upper Cuyahoga River, so I started collecting Metamucil jars for my own project but fell short. I was forced to manufactured my own jars by sawing four-inch PVC drain pipe into the proper lengths, added wooden floors, and topped each jar with a PVC cap held in place by a small screw. Each jar has a 1-1/4 inch entrance hole and two one-inch ventilation holes that are screened. I painted each jar with two coats of "Yucca Green" latex paint. A steel hose clamp holds each jar to a five-foot-long piece of 1-1/4 inch PVC that telescopes up and down a steel pipe that sticks up from the stream or lake bottom. A second hose clamp holds the "sleeve" and jar at the proper distance above the water, higher than summer flood levels.

I check my Prothonotary nest jars from my canoe (or kayak) just like they do in Geauga County. Since their installation, I have monitored the nest jar water trail twice, and so far, I am excited by the results. Seven of ten locations show warbler activity. One jar sports five eggs, one has a completed nest, and five locations have jars with moss added by male Prothonotaries. A Tree Swallow nest with five eggs in found in one jar and anther holds a wren's stick nest. Since I did not have time to paint the jars' interiors, I am pleased that three species of birds have accepted the jars' white nest chambers.

Three pairs of nest jars are located in the lake, all visible to viewers watching Osprey Platform No. One (most northern) from Hogback Road. Warblers have visited two of the nest jar pairs by adding moss.

Since PVC nest jars heat up when exposed to the sun, I tried to install them where they are shaded for all or most of the day. I have an idea for a simple roof that will shade the nest chambers next year. Also, I tried to place the mounts where they are safe from strong currents should there be a high water event during the nesting season.

I am experimenting and I will share the results. So far, "sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet" is a fairly common song along the target area of Alum Creek.

Warbler on, Dick Tuttle

Three Youngsters On Platform #4 - Alum Creek

E-mail and photo from Jim Martin:

Hello Fellow Naturalists & Conservationists:

On the evening of May 29, 2007, Mr. Tuttle and Phillips identified a third baby Osprey on Platform #4 along Hogback Rd. - Alum Creek Res. Last year this nest also produced three youngsters, all three fledged.

In the attached photo the Female adult Osprey is standing directly in front of two of the three infants. The adult Male returned shortly with a fish which the Female fed to all three - which ate their full. Just prior to the feeding two of the youngsters were "pecking" at each others heads - seemed intense to me. Mr. Tuttle tells me that at this early age of their development they are unlikely to do any harm to one another. Mr. Phillips says that the parents will start moving sticks to the outer rim of the nest and that would provide more room and a "hiding-place" for the little ones.

All three appeared to be of the same size and looked healthy.

PS: Incubation continues on platform #1 (May 30th). The Female is sitting higher on the nest so my fellow observers believe one baby may have hatched. Last year this nest produced two youngsters, both fledged.

Best Wishes,
Jim Martin.

Public Osprey Watch Events, Preservatin Parks

NEWS RELEASE:

Osprey Watch events at Alum Creek the last two Saturdays in June and July!

Ospreys are an endangered bird of prey, but here on Alum Creek we have two pairs raising babies! Bring family and friends to all four Osprey Watch events and witness these powerful birds care for their growing babies, catch fish with their feet, and defend their nests. Spotting scopes will be available and will bring the images more than 30 times closer! Then visit Hogback Ridge Preserve to learn about Osprey migration and more.

Preservation Parks of Delaware County and Alum Creek State Park are hosting four public Osprey Watch events on the last two Saturdays in June and July from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Mark the last two Saturday mornings of June and July in your calendar and bring the entire family to the Alum Creek parking lot on Hogback Road on June 23rd & 30th as well as July 21st & 28th 2007! For more information call Preservation Parks of Delaware County at (740) 524-8600, ext. 6.

Thank you,
Saundra Sklar
Special Event and Volunteer Coordinator
Preservation Parks of Delaware County
740 524-8600, ext. 6

Hogback Rd. Nest #4-- 3 YOUNG!-- Jim White

E-mail and photos from Jim White:
May 29, 2007, 4:08 AM

Male tearing up fish for the young. Female assisted with feeding also. Myself and a friend of mine, saw 3 young in the nest. Has anyone else seen 3?

And:

Swallow perched on a branch. Hogback Rd. Delaware County. Over by nest 4 area.

Jim White

27 May 2007 - Delaware Wildlife Area and More - Tuttle

E-Mail from Dick Tuttle:
Photo by Frank Germann

Hello Everyone,
The Nest Box Grids for Tree Swallows continue to amaze me. Nest boxes are evenly spaced at 25 yards to favor Tree Swallow colonies. All but two of 52 boxes contains swallow eggs or young. The earliest nests are hatching now and later nests have huge clutches of eight - 11 eggs since warmer weather must have favored hatches of prey insects. Here is the count:

PANHANDLE ROAD GRID (25 boxes) : All but one have swallow eggs or young. Five Eastern Bluebirds have fledged from their nest after daily multiple in-house visits from swallows. The old bluebird nest is now topped with a new swallow nest. Bluebird parents will lead their young through adolescence for several more weeks, after which I look for them to start a second family somewhere in the grid. Hopefully, the bluebirds will wait for a swallow family to fledge, but since bluebirds out weigh swallows by fifty percent (ten grams), aggressive bluebirds can usurp swallows. Hope for peace.

There is a pair of boxes, five yards apart, in front of the Eagle Nest Viewing Lot. Both boxes contain swallow eggs. The nest histories are separated by two weeks and the parents are in different phases of behavior to permit them to have active nests this close. In fact, one nest had one egg that had just hatched while the other had five eggs, most likely an incomplete clutch.

LEONARDSBURG ROAD GRID (25 boxes): Only one box does not have eggs or young. It has some grass and a defending swallow. This is the "crime scene" box with blood on the front, the result of a hawk's dinner. The blood is mostly gone.

GREEN TREE MARSH (Seven locations, 15 boxes): The target species is the Prothonotary Warbler. One warbler nest has four eggs while two boxes hold House Wren eggs and four have swallow eggs. It was warm enough for me to wade without neoprene waders. Prothonotaries sing throughout this flooded woodland with most of them nesting in cavities whittled by woodpeckers in cottonwood trees girdled by beavers of past years -- a fascinating place of sunning snakes and theatrical waterfowl trying to lure me away from their young families as they do their broken wing acts. I mind my own business and ignore them.

KILBOURNE SWAMP AT ALUM CREEK (Ten nest boxes in a young ash swamp forest): I am finding my attempt to attract nesting warblers here to be a futile one. Only one box is active and it has seven swallow eggs. However, another Prothonotary Warbler project along the creek and lake shows promise. I will submit a separate report to explain.

Glad to be on dry land, Dick Tuttle

28 May 2007 - Delaware lake Ospreys feed nestlings - Tuttle

E-mail from Dick Tuttle:
Photo by Frank Germann, taken May 15, 2007

Hello Everyone,

The hatching due-date for the Delaware Lake Ospreys was Friday 25 May 2007. On that date, I visited the old bridge abutment and because of the depth of the nest, I could not see enough (35x) with my scope to draw any conclusions. After six minutes of frustration (1816 - 1822), I drove across the road and entered the woods with my telescope and director's chair. From 1832 - 1907, I watched at 82x to see the female stand twice while I did not see a tail wag of any significance. At 1901, she stood and while turning 180 degrees, she dipped her head into the nest 13 times -- too much action for egg rolling alone. Minutes later, she settled in WITHOUT A FINAL TAIL WIGGLE, leading me to conclude that one or more hatchlings were in the nest. Also, once settled, her entire back was visible in what is a very deep nest cup. She was standing over hatchlings.

Confirmation of nestlings came Monday 28 May when I watched (82x) from 1530 - 1646. The female was alone at the nest for most of the time and she shifted, rocked back and forth, twitched, panted from the heat, fluffed up, and was generally agitated. She dipped her head to her front many times and when she stood, she settled back while standing high in the nest after much attention to the cup.

For two minutes, an extra Osprey caused high pitched chirps from the nest female. The extra bird circled the nest and closed in to within several yards. The extra bird had a misplaced primary feather in its left wing.

The male showed up at 1631 to snag an eight-inch channel catfish close to the nest pole. He caught it like an eagle, without splashing, something I had never witnessed before. He landed on the West sign and ate the fish's head. (I attached extra wood to the signs several years ago so Ospreys can use them for eating perches.) He delivered the fish to the nest at 1642 where the female stood, ate five bites, before "FEEDING THE NEST CUP." She delivered bites to multiple locations in the cup. I was tired and hungry myself, so I left feeling satisfied that this nest contains nestlings that hatched on or near the the predicted date.

Alum Creek No. One is scheduled to hatch 29 May to finish Osprey hatching in Delaware County, Ohio. Also, it is time for heads to appear above the nest cup at the Hoover nest. Let's hope for a large count this year.

TM & Mate, Platform #1, Hogback Road, Jim White

Received via E-mail from Jim White. Photos by Jim White.

TM & mate at the nesting platform 1. Hogback Road

TM's mate taking a bath, below the nest. Platform 1

Babies On Platform #4 - Day #2 photo. Hogback Rd

E-mail & Photo from Jim Martin:

Hello Fellow Naturalists & Conservationists: This morning Frank Germann and I had a little better luck at platform #4 along Alum Creek with taking photos. The attached photo shows the male Osprey feeding small bits of fish to his mate, who in turn, was feeding the two youngsters. In this photo you can see the circular egg shell directly in front of the female's (on the left). Next to the egg shell you can see the dark feathers of the youngster. Theses feathers are the ones behind the eyes of the little newborn.

Conditions:

• Date: May 24, 2007
• Duration: 0815 - 0910 Hours,
• Skies: Partly Cloudy,
• Wind: Mild,
• Temperatures: 73° - 78°.
• Platform #4: Male & Female Osprey Feeding two babies (Crappie).
• Equipment: Nikon Digital Camera (Martin), Canon Digital Camera & binoculars (Germann).
• PS: All is well at platform #1 as incubation nears it's end.

Best Wishes,
Jim Martin

Platform #4 - Two Youngster Showed their heads!

E-mail and photo form Jim Martin:

Hello Fellow Naturalists & Conservationists:

Tonight was a very special evening. As I arrived at platform #4 along Hogback Rd - Alum Creek, Mr. Tuttle said he spotted an egg shell and I should get a photo. I grabbed my camera an captured the photo. Just moments later Dick Tuttle spotted a baby Osprey's head pop-up over the brim of the nest. Moments later I said - I see two! The male showed-up with a fish and the female began feeding the two little one - who ate a "ton". The feeding lasted about 10 mins. This was our first sighting of youngsters this season. We now have two viable-certain nests with youngsters, Hoover is the other. We have two to go - Platform #1 and the Delaware Lake nest.

On the attached photo notice egg shell to the left of the female on the nest. This is the first Osprey egg shell photo we have taken. To the left of the egg shell you may notice a two sets of eyes of the babies. Very difficult to see, look directly above dead-center of the platform. Sorry (Bad light at sunset). Tomorrow morning I hope to get a more vivid photo of these two little ones. Oh Boy!

Conditions:

• Date: May 23, 2007
• Duration: 2023 - 2115 Hours, Sunset.
• Skies: Partly Cloudy,
• Wind: None
• Temperatures: 90° - 83°.
• Platform #4: Male & Female Osprey Feeding two babies (Crappie).
• Equipment: Telescope (Tuttle), Nikon Digital Camera and binoculars (Martin), binoculars (Germann).

Best Wishes,

Jim Martin, Dick Tuttle & Frank Germann

Unusual sequence at the Osprey Nest - Hogback Rd

E-mail from Jim Martin:

Fellow Naturalists and Conservationists:

Yesterday I witnessed an unusual sequence at the Osprey platform #1. During this normally passive & quiet time of incubation there is little happening. On yesterday morning a Great Blue Heron passed a bit too close the Osprey nest along Hogback Rd. on Alum Creek. The female Osprey decided the GBH was encroaching her territory and took after the big bird. After circling the platform a few times at high speed the GBH dove low and the Osprey continued the chase, which ended abruptly. The female flew directly into the marker/post (the Threatened Species sign) and fell directly into the lake. She stayed in the water for about a min. shaking her head with wings spread-out. I feared she had broke a wing or her neck - she was definitely stunned by the collision. The sound of her hitting the post was loud enough to hear it along the shoreline.

Fortunately this lady shook off the daze uninjured, flew a few circles and landed on the platform where the male was incubating the eggs. All is well, as the female seemed okay today - back on & off the nest with no issues.

Best Wishes,
Jim Martin.

18 May 2007 - Delaware Wildlife Area Report and More - Tuttle

E-mail from Dick Tuttle, Photos Frank Germann

18 May 2007 - Delaware Wildlife Area Report and More - Tuttle

As an indication of habitats that I am reporting on, I wore hiking boots, knee boots, chest waders and hip boots, respectively, to monitor 77 nest boxes. Here is my report:

PANHANDLE ROAD GRID (25 BOXES) AND TWO BOXES near the Eagle Nest Viewing Parking Lot: These boxes are spaced 25 yards apart to accommodate Tree Swallows in a wet field. All boxes contain nests and 21 are active. Twenty-one boxes hold swallow eggs and one box is home to five 12-day-old bluebirds. Frank Germann has photographed Tree Swallows entering the nest box with bluebird nestlings. No harm has come to the bluebirds and as soon as the last youngster fledges at around 18 days, the swallows will build a nest over the used bluebird nest, claiming the box for their future family.

Native birds will vigorously compete for nest boxes and will occasionally usurp nests with eggs. However, once eggs hatch, after several days of growth, the young birds seem to be respected by other native birds and are left alone. Try telling this to a bluebird landlord that looks out his/her kitchen window to see swallows entering a bluebird family's abode - full panic, and many times, hostility toward the swallows.

LEONARDSBURG ROAD GRID (25 BOXES): This habitat has standing water in spots and I must wear knee boots. Muddy excavations and tunnels made by land crayfish are good indicators of good swallow habitat.

All but one box have swallow nests. Twenty-two have 5 - 8 white eggs. One box remains completely empty; not even a blade of grass can be found. Perhaps, the crime scene of dried blood on the box front left by a hawk is scaring away possible tenants.

GREEN TREE MARSH (15 BOXES FOR PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS): These boxes are paired at seven locations in a willow/cottonwood marsh where I wade in leg deep water. The boxes have 1-1/4 inch entrances.

Four locations have active Tree Swallow nests and two locations have warbler nests. One location has a male's nest of moss, and the other has a finished Prothonotary nest where the female has woven a grass cup. Hopefully, I will find eggs on my next visit.

At two other locations, Prothonotaries were very active; most likely, they were preparing to nest in natural cavities.

KILBOURNE SWAMP (10 BOXES FOR PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS) at the north end of Alum Creek Lake beyond Osprey Platform No. One. The boxes are in a mixed swamp forest at four locations made up of two pairs of boxes and two pods of three boxes. No sign of warblers but one box is active with seven swallow eggs.

Prothonotary Warblers ARE NESTING along the creek in "nest jars" that I installed on May 3 and first checked on May 17. MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT LATER.

5th Wheel Osprey -At it again -Hogback Road

Saturday morning, May 19, starting at 10 AM the odd osprey trying to land on nest 1 and nest 4. This went on until 12:30 PM. Also present was Dough from Knox County and later at nest #4 was Dick Tuttle.

She is probably the 5th wheel that had the big fight with the late returning female from last year.

She made 4 to 5 passes to each nest, upsetting every one. She took time in between to catch a fish and eat it at the old gooses platform #2, them went back at it, bugging the heck out of the two nesting pairs. Once she landed on #3 where the male from #1 (TM) went and sat on the same platform, but with his back to her.


Movie of the 5th wheel going at it with nest #4.



I did not see the pair on the cell tower, or in the green tree marsh on old Leonardsburg Road Friday or Saturday. Looks like they moved on. Dick Phillips says they should show up now-and-again, then return nest year to the same spot.

Frank Germann

20 May 2007 - Osprey hatch at Hoover - Tuttle

E-mail from Dick Tuttle & photos by Frank Germann:

Hello Everyone,

The Ospreys at Hoover Reservoir in Delaware County have nestlings. The predicted hatch date was Thursday 17 May and I believe it was on target. Hatching can take place over a three to four day period for an entire clutch of 3 - 4 eggs.

I visited the boardwalk viewing area Friday evening after sunset and witnessed a nest exchange WITHOUT EGG ROLLING BY EITHER PARENT.

Saturday 19 May 2007.

I visited the site from 0958 until 1033 and used my telescope at 82x. During this time, the female was on the nest, sitting high, stood once with two sustained head dips into the cup, but when she sat back down, there was no tail wiggle.

At 1026, the male delivered a long piece of tree bark. The female stood to inspect the bark as the male looked into the cup in two directions before settling without a tail wiggle. He sat high in the nest -- and this nest is deep.

I became chilled during my visit because of the cold wind. The boardwalk is more stable now than earlier in the season when it moved easily. While on their nest, both parents seem annoyed by the feeding Tree and Barn Swallows that buzz around them. Also, it was pleasant to hear Prothonotary Warblers sing in the wooded wetlands in the area.

Sunday 20 May. I visited for a very enlightening ten minutes, 1937 - 1947. During this time, I encouraged five people to look through my scope and I had time to see the female stand, dip her head twice into the cup. Both times, she revealed food in her beak when her head rose. I believe she was feeding young and not herself. She sat back down in the same position without a tail wiggle and her tail was in line with her back. NESTLINGS ARE IN THE NEST.

Further confirmation will take place as excrement is seen squirting from the cup and heads bob above the rim in a week or so. Let's hope for a large count.

Alum Creek No. Four's hatch due-date is next -- May 22.

Raptor on, Dick Tuttle

Cell Tower Nest? Fox NOT!

I went to the cell tower this Friday morning, did not see the pair of ospreys on the tower or in the green tree marsh. The nest still has a big hole in the center, just as it has for the last four days. I would say they may have given up, hope they will return next year. This morning was the first time I could not find them.

There were 2 Red Tail hawks setting one above the other on power lines with a Kestrel trying to chase them off. This was on Shoemaker Road west of Whipple Road.

I did see the Redheaded Woodpecker on Monday in the green tree marsh on old Leonardsburg Rd.

Last week I reported I saw a fox up a tree, I have to change that to a "blond raccoon" with no visible banding. This was in a tree in the middle of a newly planted corn field off of Whipple Road. I returned to the same spot 5 mornings in a row, and observed it 4 of those days. One of the last photos taken showed hands and not paws, so no fox but a odd raccoon.

Frank Germann

Hatch Days Are Here!

Here is a repeat of part of a e-mail from Dick Tuttle from Sunday April 22, 2007 and posted on this blog.

As can be seen the 1st hatch may have happened at the Hoover Nest, Thursday. Dick Tuttle said he will check it out today.

I made the hatch dates big, so they are easier to see. Dick said that the young will live on their yoke sacks for a couple of days before the parents start to feed them, and a week or so before we can see the youngsters heads bobbing up and down.

Frank Germann

"Since all four known nests in Delaware County show incubation, I offer the following predicted dates based on 37 days of incubation and 55 days of nestling time before fledging. I also added when the young would be five weeks old when planning leg banding events are planned.

Delaware Lake Nest: April 18, incubation; May 25, hatch; June 29, 5-weeks; July 19, fledge.

Hoover Nest: April 10, incubation; May 17, hatch; June 21, 5-weeks; July 11, fledge.

Alum Creek #1: April 22, incubation; May 29, hatch; July 3, five-weeks; July 23 fledge.

Alum Creek #4: April 15, incubation; May 22, hatch; June 26, five-weeks; July 16 fledge.

Of course, the above dates are predictions and anything can happen, but many people are watching these nests so accurate updates will not be a problem. "

16 May 2007 - American Kestrel update - Tuttle

E-Mail from and photos by Dick Tuttle:

Hello Everyone,

Dick Phillips and I monitored the 50 mile long roadside kestrel box trail for the third time on Wednesday, May 16. Of 18 nest boxes hanging from poles, 14 contain active falcon nests; four with females sitting on eggs or young, four with eggs, and six nests with nestlings.

Young kestrels huddled in balls to share valuable body heat. They ranged in age from three to ten days.

It is common to find female kestrels brooding their young for the first week or so after hatching. Since our nest boxes are top opening, we can safely inspect the families without bothering parent birds. If needed, mother kestrels will flip on their backs and slash with their fish hook-like talons to protect their young. I have never experienced this behavior since I mind my own business. I can count the young at a later visit when the mother is no longer brooding her young.

Females brood young for a week or more and the male is the sole provider during this period. He delivers field rodents and large insects to his family. Regurgitated pellets (elongated hair balls with bones) are found in most of the boxes. Beetles of several species invade the boxes to further decompose animal remains as they live in the white pine bedding.

Most of our boxes are located along country roads lined with fields farmed for soybeans and corn. Kestrels can only hunt the grassy berms from utility wires. If not for predators, rodents would multiply to invade the many homes that are sprouting up throughout Delaware County. Something to think about. Too bad Alfred Hitchcock is no longer with us. Nonetheless, "The Rodents" just doesn't have a ring to it like "The Birds."

During this last visit, one female positioned her wing to shield her young from the monster (me) looking down from her ceiling -- or was she getting ready to flip and slash? Ah, the wildness of it all!

Raptor on without bleeding, Dick Tuttle

Alum Creek - Hogback Rd. Osprey Update.

E-Mail and photos from Jim Martin:

Fellow Conservationists and Naturalists:

After 4 consecutive days of watching the Osprey along Alum Creek the Male (TM) at platform #1 finally showed up and with lunch in-tow for his mate. The female was on the nest for about 2 hours and was making a lot of noise. This, in the past, seemed to mean that she was hungry and when her "chirp" became shriller, met there was an intruder that needed attention for her mate. Today, it was both - as it seems. The male returned per her beckoning with the fish, as the photo shows. After delivering the fish he quickly flew to platform #2 to rid the neighborhood of the "extra" female Osprey, as the 2nd photo shows. The extra lady was on platform #2 also raising cane - but kept her distance. She left the area quiclky to the North with minor encouragement from TM. The Male (TM) yhen took over nesting duty as the female flew to a nearby tree to eat.

Platform #4 status remains unchanged. Incubation continues.

The cell tower at Horseshoe rd. continues to grow.

Observation Conditions were ideal with Sun, 40-50 degrees, clear blue skies, minor winds and no fishermen/boats approaching the platforms too closely.

Best Wishes,
Jim Martin

hogback/tower-!

E-Mail & photos from Dawn Cook:

we met the other day (roger cook).

I am sending you some pictures.
tower-1 has a baby, but i am not sure.
I shot 3 fra.per.sec. the other two frames do not show this (two eyes & a fourhead)

Dawn Cook

May 9, 2007-Delaware Wildlife Area- Tuttle

E-Mail from Dick Tuttle:
Photos By Frank Germann

9 May 2007 - Delaware Wildlife Area Report and more.

PANHANDLE ROAD GRID, 25 NEST BOXES PLUS TWO BOXES NEAR PARKING LOT.
All boxes hold nests in different stages of construction. One box holds five bluebird nestlings three days old. Two Tree Swallow nests with eggs were found in other boxes.

LEONARDSBURG ROAD GRID, 25 NEST BOXES.
Seven nest boxes hold Tree Swallow nests with eggs. All but one box show nests in different stages of construction. The lone box has a huge bloodstain on its front where a winged predator left its mark.

Comment: At this time in 2006, of the 52 nest boxes listed above, 37 had Tree Swallow nests with eggs. In other words, four times as many nests had eggs in 2006 than during the same period this year. A cold spring is most likely the reason for this delay.

Also, in 2001, I analyzed 35 nest histories that had produced two broods of Tree Swallows during the same season and found that if the first egg of the season appears before May 11, there is time for a nest box to raise two swallow families. Therefore, second broods should be less common than the rate of one of four boxes recorded in 2006. A late start does limit production, or so I predict. We will see.

GREEN TREE MARSH. This is the cottonwood/willow "swamp" along Leonardsburg Road before the flood levee. I have fifteen nest boxes at seven locations in this marsh, all designed for Prothonotary Warblers. The boxes have 1-1/4 inch entrance holes and I must wade in leg-deep water in beaver canals to reach the boxes.

I counted four male prothonotaries singing and two pairs of my boxes had moss deposited in them. Females arrive from migration after the males to make the final decision of where to nest. I was privileged to watch a male "yellow willow warbler" sing on his nest box 15 feet from me. Their yellow approaches orange and they have blue-gray wings. What a treat! My nest boxes have stiff competition in this wet world since Redheaded Woodpeckers continue to whittle numerous natural cavities in the trees. The cell tower Ospreys also hang out there.

I also have warbler boxes in the KILBOURNE SWAMP north of #1 Osprey platform at Alum Creek lake. No sign of warblers there, yet. Two boxes have 40-mm entrances as I try to attract swamp bluebirds. One of these boxes has its first Tree Swallow egg and the other box, near Hogback Road, had a male bluebird inspecting it as the sun set on May 9.

ALSO, for minutes around 13:30, a male Osprey was doing his courtship display with high altitude chirps, wing flapping, all while carrying a fish. The display took place between platforms #1 and #2. Both pairs of nesting Ospreys were at their platforms and from my vantage point in the swamp, I could see (8x) no birds on platforms #2 (goose-less) and #3. Perhaps, a female was perched along the western shore where I could not see. TM chased the amorous male away.

On May 3, I planted twenty additional nest structures for warblers along Alum Creek Lake and Creek. More about this project later.

In conclusion, there is more to bluebirding than bluebirds. Dick Tuttle

Kestrel, Redheaded Woodpecker, Fox & More!

Another great 2 days with the camera.

I've been trying for the last few days to get a photo of a Kestrel. Today at box #15 on Whipple Road I got my chance. Plus photos of a Redheaded woodpecker, a sparrow with a fancy hair doo and a young fox up a tree.

At the Green Tree Marsh on Leonardsburg Road, 2 more redheaded woodpeckers, Little Green Heron, big green frogs, 3 pairs of geese with young and of course the osprey on the cell tower.

The nest on the cell tower is getting bigger, it is almost hard to see light through the bottom of it when looking straight up.

The #4 osprey nest on Hogback looks to be fine, the male on #1 was adding grass and sticks to the nest. Every evening at dark, geese come in from all directions near #1. If the female is on the roost she will take off and dive bomb them and make the geese dive under the water. She puts on quite a show.

Frank Germann

Osprey Video

E-Mail and Link from Troy Alpeter, Naturalist, Delaware County Preservation Parks:

Hi Frank, I got a good video this morning and put it up on YouTube. It is pretty self-explanatory, since there's a description field to fill out.

The link on the youtube website is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo2MB5Heo1I




Well, enjoy and good luck. I'll see you around!
--Troy

Naturalist At Work - Troy Alpeter

E-Mail from Jim Martin:

Hello Fellow Conservationists & Naturalists:

Today, May 8th, 2007 10:00am, Troy Alpeter - Naturalist & I met at the Hogback Rd. Osprey site to check out what was a quite slow activity day. A small thanks to Troy.

The attached photo shows the dedication of a fine young man enhancing his skills with Binos & camcorder in position for an Osprey nest swap near nest #4. Troy hopes to post a "nest swap" film sequence on Frank Germann's blog site if he captures a worthy sequence. Click here to watch for Troy's efforts to record a mid-incubation series and others efforts to record this year's progress. http://www.osprey.rabbitquick.com/

Best Wishes,
Jim Martin.

LISTENING TO THE LAND AT THE DELAWARE STATE WILDLIFE AREA

E-Mail from Dick Tuttle & Press Release form the Ohio Division of Wildlife:

Frank,
Please post this announcement on your blog. Much will be enjoyed at this event. I intend to supply feathers for feather tossing for Tree Swallows. The swallows will swoop to grab floating feathers to take back to their nest boxes.

The following press release was furnished by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

See you there, Dick Tuttle

LISTENING TO THE LAND AT THE DELAWARE STATE WILDLIFE AREA

The Division of Wildlife participates in central Ohio conservation celebration COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife will host a Listening to the Land essay reading and area exploration at Delaware State Wildlife Area on May 12th at 10:00 a.m.

Listening to the Land is a year-long celebration of conservation, marked by the reading of Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac at different locations throughout central Ohio.

The Division of Wildlife will be reading the essay "Clandeboye" and then leading attendees in an exploration of the Delaware State Wildlife Area's productive wetlands. To reach the area, take State Route 23 north from Delaware and turn right on Main Road. Turn left on Panhandle Road and the area will be on the right. For more information on the Division of Wildlife's portion of this event, contact Lindsay Deering at (614) 644-3925.

For each event you attend throughout the year, you will receive one chance for door prizes at our final event. Generous sponsors have donated spectacular gifts including copies of the Illustrated Sand County Almanac signed by Mr. Leopold's surviving children, a dutch oven cooker, a scholarship to attend the national Leopold Education Project Workshop and a hand carved walking stick. Winners do not need to be present, but all are welcomed to our finale at the Columbus Zoo on March 15, 2008.

For more information on the Listening to the Land events, see their web site at http://www.epa.state.oh.us/oeef/html/leopold2007.html.

Good Progress At The Horseshoe/Leonordsburg Rd. Osprey Nest

E-mail and photos from Jim Martin:

Hello Everyone:

Despite a later start (then others in Delaware County) the Osprey on top of the huge cell tower at the corners of Horseshoe and Leonordsburg Roads are making good progress with preparing their nest. I have attached 2 photos to contrast the nest size changes between April 29th and today, May 5, 2007. It appears that this pair could be getting serious about starting a family. We have seen other Osprey pairs go through the motions of what appeared to be a viable nest, but, due to their youth, are unsuccessful. Either way, we seem to have a new pair that have taken up homestead in Delaware County, Ohio. That is good news for the Osprey reintroduction program in Central Ohio.

We'll keep watch with nest and hope for the best.

Best Wishes,
Jim Martin.

blue bird @ #1

E-Mail and links from: Jack Oliver

hi frank,
here's pics of the blue bird, @ #1 on horseshoe rd. ?

thanks, jack

stuff 303

stuff 340

Another Super Day at Delaware Lake!

I spent 2 and 1/2 hours at Delaware Lake Thursday morning, I didn't want to leave! But I made the mistake of taking the cell phone and was getting calls from work.

I went to take photos of American Kestrels, but did not find them. Spent time at box #1 on Horseshoe Rd., just north of Leonardsburg Rd. and at box #11 on Sherwood Rd. No Kestrels would poses for me. A immature bald eagle and a full grown eagle flew north within a few minutes of each other. Beats me where they were going.

I took one photo up north looking south at the cell tower on Leonardsburg Rd. with the two ospreys on top.

I then headed into the park and went north on Panhandle Rd where it dead ends at the parking lot. I was trying to find the pond where I saw a eagle caught a catfish on Wednesday. If you want to see a couple of fantastic ponds you have to take the short walk from the parking area!!! (Go east on the mowed grass path.) I don't know how any farmer could have give up their little bit of paradise to the state for the making of Delaware Lake.

Well, needless to say I took a lot of great photos. I would have enjoyed myself even if I didn't have the camera!

Frank Germann

American Kestrel Update, 5-2-07- Tuttle

E-mail from Dick Tuttle:
Photo of American Kestrel eggs by Dick Phillips, (The last egg is always the lightest in color. The pinkish hue is caused from decomposition of last year's whitewash (bird waste).

Photo of Kestrel box Frank Germann.

Hello Everyone,

For the second time this season (2 May 2007), Dick Phillips and I monitored 18 American Kestrel nest boxes that hang from utility poles. Most of the boxes are in Delaware County. Presently , 14 of the boxes have active falcon nests, including six where females were incubating an unknown number of eggs, seven nests held five eggs, and a nest at Gallant Woods Preserve had six eggs.

Of the four boxes without kestrels, all had European Starling nests; two nests were empty and one and three eggs were removed from the other two. We do not remove starling nests, however, since kestrels will use starling grasses for bedding for their own eggs.

Starlings are an alien species not protected by law. They were first released in NYC in 1890, began nesting in Ohio in 1916, and were found nesting in all counties ten years later. Their diet of insects makes them a good bird, but their habit of taking nest cavities from our native birds makes them very bad, indeed.

Drop in the learning center at Gallant Woods Preserve at 2151 Buttermilk Hill Road north of Delaware to see an interactive kestrel box where a mirror helps you peek into the kestrel's world inside a nest box. Also, a large poster vividly explains the life cycle of North American's smallest falcon.

Raptor on, Dick Tuttle

Cell Osprey still adding to nest & Other Wildlife

Tuesday evening at Hogback was uneventful, Dick Tuttle and I spent time watching nest #1 and #4 with not much changing the last 3 days. Nest #4 pair look to be great as is the pair on #1. The geese on #2 should be hatching soon as should the geese nest just to the right of nest #1 on the small Island.

I've only seen one wood duck in the last 5 days, and there were more cormorants flying north.

Wednesday morning I went over to the cell tower in the Delaware Lake area. Saw both osprey adding to the sparse nest. I wonder if the only time they add is when I've got my camera on them?

As you can see by the photos above I had many great photo oops. The eagle was carrying a catfish. I'm sure he got it from the large pond west of the lake and north of the road (old Leonardberg Road?). The beautiful cock pheasant was on top of the dike just below the cell tower. He was not hard to find because he keep making his distinctive call. The deer shots were taken on the way out north of Main Road, on the east side of old Panhandle Road in the USDA tree area. In all I took about 95 photos in a little more than one hour.
Note: There have been anywhere from 1 to 7 people at the Hogback Road Nest #1 each evening from about 7 pm till after dark. We always have a lot to talk about, all are welcome. (That's how we get a heads up on whats going on in the county)

Frank Germann

New Osprey Pair at Delaware Lake

This Tuesday AM I went to Leonrdsberg Rd. and Horseshoe Rd. to check out the 4 osprey seen there last Friday. As Dick Tuttle observed there was a pair on the cell tower.

I found one on the tower about 8 AM, and one in the swamp/woods on the north side eating a fish in a tree.

Over the next 45 minutes they were both adding sticks and mud to the top of the tower. It looks like they are there to stay, will know more within the next few days.

While walking around I also saw three hawks, lots of black birds, sparrows, maybe a mocking bird, a pair of geese with new born, two of the brightest blue jays I've ever seen and a pair of yellow finches so close I could reach out and touch them, (as a mater of fact they were so close my camera would not focus that close). And before I left a weasel crossed the road. I am defiantly going back again with lots of fresh batteries.

If you observe and or have photos to share, please be sure to e-mail to frank@rabbitquick.com and I will post.

Frank Germann